MANILA, Philippines — Suspected drug items were found in the residence of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III during a police search on Monday, Sept. 4.
Authorities from the the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Drug Enforcement Group, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Palawan provincial police went to Marcaida’s house in the city’s Brgy. Bancao-bancao and served the search warrant to the vice mayor issued by Judge Reynaldo Alhambra of the Regional Trial Court of Manila-Branch 53, according to a report by dzMM radio.
Among those found in Marcaida’s house after a three-hour search were 30 pieces of plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, five guns, live ammunition, three rifle grenades, and one hand grenade.
Marcaida, a member of the Liberal Party, will be placed under police custody and is expected to undergo undergo inquest proceedings. The items seized from his house while will be sent to the PNP Crime Laboratory.
Last July, Marcaida was accused of being linked to illegal drug trade.
Puerto Princesa Councilor Jimmy Carbonell, one of Marcaida’s most vocal critics, claimed that the vice mayor had been tagged by the PNP as among the “high value targets” in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs campaign.
Marcaida denied Carbonell’s allegation.
“I have not yet received any communication from the City PNP that I am a high value target, because if I am, they should have told me,” the vice mayor said.
